A low building sits on Harbor Avenue, right beside the dock for the Water Taxi, with a full view of downtown Seattle across the bay.

I arrived there on a Sunday evening, about an hour and a half before they closed, and it wasn't lively or "happening" at the time – mostly teens and families from West Seattle, by the looks of it. Instead it was a peaceful experience.

I ordered the obligatory can of passion-orange-guava and the four-pack of tacos ($12) with kalua pork to go, and it was ready within minutes. The tortillas were soft, but not soft enough to disintegrate when I handled them, even with the generous amount of Nunya sauce. The slaw on top added a good crunch to the buttery pork, which was sweet –?clearly well-marinated, hence the name, but not soggy. Squeezing some lime slices over the tacos added a nice tang.

Overall, the meal left me satisfied without being bloated. I'm left curious about how the place looks on a Friday night, though. It has outdoor seating, as well as a patio bar where drinks are available (although they don't accept "vertical" ID cards). Its indoor area seems deserted for the time being, due to the pandemic.

Marination Ma Kai is a worthy stop for beachgoers and ferry riders, especially if those craving something with Spam, though that's not cheap ($4.50-5.00).